Aliments i
beguda
Beurem una boteta
El dijous llarder
En Joan ve de la cuina
Jo tinc cinc pomes
Joan del Rui
La Caterineta
La coqueta amb sucre
La masovera
Olles, olles
Xim, na, na, nà
Xiriminimi
Last updated: 05/07/2016 15:40
The songs below are part of ‘Joan del Rui’
The Catalan collection
compiled, adapted, translated and illustrated by Dany Rosevear
Return to the ‘Singing games for children’ home page
To listen to music from these
songs click on O
To watch the
author sing a song click on the title at:
Why a
separate Catalan collection?
My
intention in researching Catalan songs was to add just a small number to my
original Spanish collection. However it was obvious from the outset that this
region of Spain is a particularly rich source of wonderful music and rhythms
and before long I had assembled and translated a dedicated compilation of
singing games and dances.
Many
of these had been accessed on the internet in the form of videos. The dances
themselves should be self evident from the directions
given but I would urge anyone who would like to introduce these songs in the
Catalan language to classes of children to illustrate the dances using these
videos as a model to copy on their whiteboards.
© Dany Rosevear 2008 All rights reserved
You
are free to copy, distribute, display and perform these works under the
following conditions:
·
you must give the original author credit
·
you may not use this work for commercial purposes
·
for any re-use or distribution, you must make clear to others the
licence terms of this work
·
any of these can be waived if you get permission from the copyright
holder
Your
fair use and other rights are no way affected by the above.
The
Catalan Collection
Catalan
pronunciation
Spoken
Catalan like Spanish is quite distinctive from spoken English. The more
distinctive sounds of letters in the words of the songs are provided to aid
pronunciation in the guide below. The letters not listed are pronounced
approximately as in English.
a stressed sounds like ah (father) as
in pa
a unstressed sounds like a (sugar) as
in porta
e open sounds like e (met) at the beginning or within a word as in nen
e closed sounds like e (they) at the beginning or within a word as in llet
i sounds like ee (feet) as
in nit
e sounds like ay at the end of a word as in leche
o sounds like oa (boat) as
in boca
u sounds like oo (boot) as
in una
b is silent after m as
in amb
c sounds like c (acid) before the letters i and e as
in cel
ç sounds like c (acid) as
in canço
g (before
e and i) and
j sounds like sh (vision) as in pàgina jeure
g sounds like h (hallo)
before the letters i
and e as in gente
h is always silent unless the word is of foreign origin
ll sounds like lli (million) as
in llapis
p is silent after m as
in llamp
v at the beginning of a word sounds like b as in vi
rr sounds like a Scottish r as
in carro
v sounds
like b as in vaca
s and z
sounds like z (zoo) as
in casa zero
u is silent after g
and q as
in gue qui
x at the beginning of a word or
after l, n, r sounds like sh as in xarop
There are many sites on line
that provide help with pronunciations
Catalan
punctuation
Written
Catalan like Spanish is distinctive from written English; fewer capitals are
used at the beginning of each line of verse, exclamation and question marks are
used both at the beginning and end of sentences. However, for familiarity I
have usually conformed to the English model when writing Catalan verse.
Beurem una boteta O
A drinking song popular in Catalan tavernas.
Substitute water for wine or, if hygiene is an issue, mime drinking water
from an empty bottle!
Watch at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKG32F5DCkg
Directions:
Sitting in a large circle pass a bottle round in time to the music.
The child who has the bottle at the end of the first part of the song mimes
drinking. The others clap with a stressed beat on the final note to stop
the drinking.
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Beurem una boteta, de la vall, de la vall roseta.
Beurem una boteta, de la vall, de la vall, del vi.
Que begui,
que begui, que begui,
que begui, Que begui,
que begui, que begui,
que prou!
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Let’s
pass around the bottle, from the vale, from the vale of roses.
Let’s
pass around the bottle, from the vale, from the vale of wine.
We’ll drink it, we’ll drink it, we’ll drink it, we’ll drink it, We’ll drink it, we’ll drink it, we’ll
drink it all up!
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El dijous llarder O
‘El dijous
llarder’ marks the start of carnival in many towns
celebrating with traditional foods such as sausage, eggs, fried trout and
cake. Pig products dominate: pig roasts, black sausage omelette, crackling
and there are a series of events that revolve around egg and pork.
Schools traditionally celebrate Maundy Thursday with a picnic and sing
this song as they march along the path with sausage sandwiches, cake and a
drink in hand.
Watch at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5R_b6ySsWOI
Directions:
March around the room in line moving hands as below.
Verse 1 Hold right hand thumb to the nose
as left hand thumb touches the little finger of the right hand. Wiggle
fingers.
Verse 2 Place thumbs to ears, waggle
fingers while marching.
Verse 3 Place thumbs in corner of mouth
and waggle fingers.
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El dijous llarder,
botifarra, botifarra,
El dijous llarder,
botifarra menjaré.
I si és dijous gras,
botifarra, botifarra,
I si és dijous gras,
botifarra menjaràs.
I si no
n' hi ha prou,
una truita, una truita,
I si no
n' hi ha prou,
una truita
de dos ous.
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When it’s lard Thursday,
We’ll eat sausage, we’ll eat sausage,
When it’s lard Thursday,
We’ll eat sausages for lunch.
And on Maundy Thursday,
We’ll eat sausage, we’ll eat sausage,
And on Maundy Thursday,
We’ll eat sausages all day.
If that’s not enough,
We’ll eat lake trout,
we’ll eat lake trout,
If that’s not enough,
We’ll eat two egg omelette.
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En Joan ve de la cuina
O
When puppy steals a crust of bread from the soup what should Joan do?
Watch a simple line dance at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwkPuzdRlVs
For noisier effect use claves instead of clapping:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tq7Z1Mwm_wE&feature=related
Directions:
Stand in
two line hands on hips s. Each child faces a partner.
Line 1, 3 and 4: Heels rise and fall in time to the music.
Line 2: Slap thighs or knees three times then partner’s hands
thrice.
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En Joan ve de la cuina;
Uh, uh,
uh! Ah, ah, ah!
En Joan ve de la cuina;
Carregat amb el sopar.
En Joan porta la sopa;
Uh, uh,
uh! Ah, ah, ah!
En Joan porta la sopa;
I al damunt un tros de pa.
Mentre ell menja la sopa;
Uh, uh,
uh! Ah, ah, ah!
Mentre ell menja la sopa
Un gossot li pren el pa.
Si en Joan empaita el "quisso";
Uh, uh,
uh! Ah, ah, ah!
Si en Joan empaita el "quisso"
És segur
que el bordarà.
Val més que es mengi la sopa;
Uh, uh,
uh! Ah, ah, ah!
Val més que es mengi la sopa
I que deixi córrer el pa.
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Uncle
John comes from the kitchen;
Ooh,
ooh, ooh! Ah, ah, ah!
Uncle
John comes from the kitchen;
With
his supper, tra-la-la.
Uncle
John brings in the soup pot;
Ooh,
ooh, ooh! Ah, ah, ah!
Uncle
John brings in the soup pot;
And on
top some bread crusts are.
While
he eats the broth so tasty;
Ooh,
ooh, ooh! Ah, ah, ah!
While
he eats the broth so tasty;
Puppy takes
a crust, ha-ha!
If our
John pursues the puppy;
Ooh,
ooh, ooh! Ah, ah, ah!
If our
John pursues the puppy,
It
will surely bark and bark.
Give
him soup t’would be much better;
Ooh,
ooh, ooh! Ah, ah, ah!
Give
him soup t’would be much better;
He would
drop the bread, hoorah!
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Jo tinc cinc
pomes O
Count the number of apples backwards in this song.
Instead of clapping as below give each child two claves to tap
together for more effect as in this clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DthRvMqjjQ
Directions:
In a circle make a line one behind the other, choose a leader. March
and clap in time to the music round the circle. After the first verse the
leader takes the line off around the room. Sing ‘La, la, la...’ fast moving
quickly. Sing a second time and move slowly. Return to the circle and sing
the first verse moving as before.
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Jo tinc cinc
pomes a la butxaca,
Les voldries tu? Clap!
Jo tinc cinc
pomes a la butxaca,
Les voldries tu? Clap!
Si tu sabessis
com són de bones,
I volguessis totes les pomes,
Te les dono a tu, Clap!
Te les dono a tu. Clap!
Tinc quatre
pomes...
Jo tinc tres
pomes...
Tinc dues pomes...
Tinc una
pome..
La, la, la, la...
|
I have
five apples in my pocket,
Would
you like one too? Clap!
I have
five apples in my pocket,
Would
you like one too? Clap!
And if
you find them so good and tasty,
And
you wanted all of my apples,
I’d
give them to you; Clap!
I’d
give them to you. Clap!
I have
four apples...
I have
three apples...
I have
two apples...
I have
one apple...
La, la, la, la...
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Joan del Riu O
Joan del Riu, a little like the Pied Piper of
Hamelin, is a popular and mischievous minstrel who enters the towns and
villages of the Pyrenees at carnival time bearing all sorts of disparate and
extravagant goodies through the streets as he passes.
Some legends suggest he is goat footed and smells of sulphur and that
his catchy tunes and joyful dances lure folk from their more serious pursuits
of prayer and churchgoing.
Watch at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klXbC6U8N9c
Directions:
First part: Hold hands in a circle; skip
lightly anticlockwise with high knees.
Second part: Jump repetitively together in
and out of the circle.
|
Joan del Riu n’és arribat amb un
pot de confitura.
Joan del Riu n’és arribat amb un
pot de raïmat.
N'ha portat
un violon per fer ballar les ninetas.
N'ha portat
un violon per fer ballar tot el món.
Joan del riu n’és arribat amb una carga de monines.
Joan del riu n’és arribar amb una carga d'escarbats.
N'ha portat ....
Joan del riu n’és arribat amb una bóta de vi ranci.
Joan del riu n’és arribat amb una bóta
de moscat.
N'ha portat ....
Repeat first verse
|
River
John’s coming to town with a jar of jam so tasty.
River
John’s coming to town with a bunch of juicy grapes.
He
has brought a violin to go dancing with the children.
He
has brought a violin to go dancing round the world.
River
John’s coming to town with a troupe of lively monkeys.
River
John’s coming to town with some scarab beetles too.
He
has bought ...
River
John’s coming to town with fine wine that is so mellow,
River
John’s coming to town with a bottle of Muscat.
He
has bought ...
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La Caterineta O
‘Ball rodó is a circle dance that preceded the ‘sardana’ and is mentioned in Medieval Catalan writings.
Accompany this dance with the strong beat of a drum.
Watch at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt4cFU8iiag&NR=1
Find
another game at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?vd=uSdjtVHfr0c&feature=related
Directions:
Make a circle holding hand. Walk round
anticlockwise for the first two lines. Then place right toe in circle then
left, repeat sequence.
On last phrase
bend knees to squat together, still holding hands, rise
up ready to start again.
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Ball rodó, Caterineta, Caterineta,
Ball rodó, Caterineta, Catarinó.
S'ha menjat
la cansalada,
I tots els ous del ponedor.
Ajupa't moixó!
|
Round we go, Catherinetta,
Catherinetta;
Round we go, Catherinetta,Catherine;
Well she ate up all the bacon,
And the eggs of laying hens.
Sink to
the ground!
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La coqueta amb sucre O
You dance so well,
show us how to do it.
Watch at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJPkeFOpI0A&feature=related
Directions:
Those in the circle clap as a child in the centre skips, hands on
hips, around the inside. Third line: this child stops in front of one in the circle, bows
or curtseys, then holding right hands skips round to swap places for the
next game.
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Qui la ballarà la coqueta amb sucre?
Qui la ballarà eixerit sera!
Balli-la vosté senyoret/a ---------,
Balli-la vosté que la balla bé! x2
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Who
will dance for us on the cake well sugared?
Who
will dance for us, who will it be!
Dance
for us, for us, senor/ita ---------,
Dance
for us, for us, you can dance so well! x2
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La masovera O
Learn the days of the week in Catalan. ‘La masovera’
is a housewife.
Watch at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=my4JB0hAi2E
Directions:
Make two circles of equal numbers, one inside the other, facing the
centre and holding hands. The inside circle will need to stand closer together.
1. Move
rhythmically up and down on toes as an introduction.
2. March on the spot.
3. Outer circle move forward with
raised arms and place them over those in the inner circle. The inner ring
steps back so one circle is made.
4. Together make a jump for each
piece of food mentioned.
5. Skip round to the right.
Second time: Repeat the sequence above but at
3. The outer circle separates from the inner by raising arms and moving back.
After jumps for each food item the outer circle skips to the right as the
inner skips left.
|
1.
2. La masovera se'n va al mercat, x2
3.El mercat és el dilluns,
El dilluns en compra llums:
4. LLUMS!
5. O lai lá, la masovera, la masovera!
O lai lá, la masovera se'n va al mercat!
La masovera se'n va al mercat, x2
El mercat és el dimarts,
El dimarts en compra naps:
LLUMS! NAPS!
O lai lá...
La masovera se'n va al mercat, x2
El mercat és el dimecres,
El dimecres en compra nespres:
LLUMS!
NAPS! NESPRES!
O lai l lá...
La masovera se'n va al mercat, x2
El mercat és el dijous,
El dijous en compra
nous: LLUMS! NAPS! NESPRES! NOUS!
O lai l lá...
La masovera se'n va al mercat, x2
El mercat és el divendres,
El divendres, faves tenders:
LLUMS! NAPS! NESPRES! NOUS! FAVES TENDRES!
O lai l lá...
La masovera se'n va al mercat, x2
El mercat és el dissabte,
El dissabte, tot s'ho gasta: LLUMS! NAPS! NESPRES! NOUS! FAVES TENDRES! TOT
S'HO GASTA!
O lai l lá...
La masovera se'n va al mercat, x2
El mercat és el diumenge,
Diumenge, tot s'ho menja: LLUMS! NAPS! NESPRES! NOUS! FAVES TENDRES! TOT
S'HO GASTA! TOT S'HO MENJA! O lai l lá...
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Off to
the market the old lady goes, x2
For
Monday is market day,
And on Monday
she’ll buy greens: GREENS!
Oh lai la, sings the old lady, sings the old lady!
Oh lai la, sings the old lady on market day!
Off to
the market the old lady goes, x2
For
Tuesday is market day,
And on
Tuesday she’ll buy turnip: GREENS! TURNIPS!
Oh lai la...
Off to
the market the old lady goes, x2
For
Wednesday is market day,
And on
Wednesday she’ll buy medlars: GREENS! TURNIPS!
MEDLARS!
Oh lai la...
Off to
the market the old lady goes, x2
For
Thursday is market day,
And it’s Thursday she’ll buy nuts: GREENS! TURNIPS! MEDLARS!
NUTS! Oh lai la...
Off to
the market the old lady goes, x2
For
Friday is market day,
And on
Friday she’ll buy green beans: GREENS! TURNIPS! MEDLARS! NUTS! FRENCH
BEANS! Oh lai la...
Off to
the market the old lady goes, x2
For
Saturday is market day,
And on
Saturday she’ll spend all: GREENS! TURNIPS! MEDLARS! NUTS! FRENCH BEANS!
SPENDS IT ALL! Oh lai la...
Off to
the market the old lady goes, x2
For
Sunday is market day,
And on
Sunday she’ll eat it up:
GREENS!
TURNIPS! MEDLARS! NUTS! FRENCH BEANS! SPENDS IT ALL! EATS IT UP!
Oh lai la...
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Olles, olles O
This slow gentle tune is similar to ‘La gallina
ponicana’ but played very differently.
‘Olles de vi blanc’ is sung to encourage the rains to fall as
there is very little rain in this part of Spain.
The song describes rain puddles but ‘olles’
are also long pointed pots, ‘amphora’, used to collect rainwater or store
wine.
Watch at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02qiRZ6u4EI&feature=related
Directions:
Stand in
a circle holding hands.
Walk round steadily to the beat.
When a child’s name is sung they
turn round to face outwards but still hold hands.
The game finishes when all have
turned.
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Olles, olles de vi
blanc,
Totes són plenes de fang,
De fang i de maduixa,
Gira la caruixa.
Qui la girarà? La donzelleta.
Qui la girarà La (nom) serà.
|
Lots of pots of good
white wine,
All are full of mud
and mire,
They’re full of mud
and strawberries,
Turn around the water
jars.
Who will turn around? It’s this young lady / gentleman.
Who will turn around? (Name) it will be.
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|
Xim, na, na, nà
O
Demonstrate how to break eggs in a pan. Let children to mime this
before singing the song.
If hopping on one foot proves difficult encourage children to change
feet or just jump.
Watch at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-g5ZC-UGGM
Directions:
Stand in a circle with one child in the centre wearing a chef’s hat
and holding a frying pan (paella) with a wooden spoon.
1st verse: Those in the circle slap hands up and down then stir eggs in the pan. Cook
walks round stirring the eggs in the pan.
2nd verse: Those in he
circle move as before but also hop, cook hops around the ring and on the
last line chooses a replacement so the game can begin again.
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Xim, na, na, nà,
Fes ous a la paella.
Xim, na, na, nà,
fes ous amb bacallà.
Xim, na, na, na,
Make
fried eggs in the skillet,
Xim,
na, na, na,
Make
scrambled eggs with cod.
Xim, na, na, nà,
Rosetes saltirones,
Xim, na, na, nà,
Rosetes qui en voldrà?
Xim,
na, na, na,
Cook
hops around the circle,
Xim, na, na, na,
Now
choose the one you want.
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|
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Xiriminimí O
Yet another Catalan drinking song!
This one is danced and sung at harvest time.
Watch at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frroi3Nv34g
Make two sets facing pairs As and Bs, arranged in two lines of four, hands by side.
Directions:
1st
verse: Cross to opposite sides
passing facing partner with shoulders to the right. Turn round and return
passing shoulders right. Repeat first movement. On last phrase merge two
lines into one facing forwards.
2nd verse: Walk four steps forwards then turn and walk forwards in the other
direction. Turn and repeat in both directions.
3rd verse: As hold hands to make bridges, Bs walk
round behind and up the line where B2 goes through the end arch and the B1
round the end child to return to their original positions.
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Xiriminimí se'n va anar a Roma,
Xiriminimí per beure vi.
iIquan va tornar de
Roma,
No es podia ni tenir.
Xiriminimí tornava a casa,
Xiriminimí per Sant Climent,
Peralada, Garriguella,
Sempre hi troba bona gent.
Xiriminimí volta que volta,
Xiriminimí i es va aturar.
“Jo vull fer una comparança,
Vi d'aquí hauré de tastar”.
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Xiriminimí went off to London,
Xiriminimí, to wine and dine.
And when he returned from London,
He did not feel fit or fine.
Xiriminimí came back from London,
Xiriminimí, his neighborhood,
Was a town near Barcelona,
Where the people are all good.
Xiriminimí went round in circles,
Xiriminimí stood still and said:
"I will try all sorts of drink here,
One will surely clear my head.”
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